Petunia plant named &#39;jam lavertwo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A petunia cultivar particularly distinguished by its large, light lavender flowers, early flowering and large leaf size is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Jam Lavertwo’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Jam Lavertwo’. The new cultivar originated from ahybridization made in the year 2001 in Gilroy, Calif. The female parentwas ‘Suncatcher Lavender’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,007), while the maleparent was ‘Jamboree Light Blue’ (U.S. Plant Patent applied for).

The new cultivar was created in 2001 in Gilroy, Calif. and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissueculture in Gilroy, Calif. and Andijk, The Netherlands over atwo-and-a-half-year period. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy,Calif., Litchfield, Mich.n and Andijk, The Netherlands. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color; thecolors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photograph is of a four-month-old plantgrown in a lexan-covered greenhouse in a spring trial setting.

FIG. 1. The photograph shows blooms, buds and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Jam Lavertwo’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on four-month-old plantsgrown in one-gallon pots in a poly-covered greenhouse. Color readingswere taken in the greenhouse in the late winter season under naturallight. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001 edition). Texturedescription details were observed under a dissecting microscope.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.-   Growth:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Good vigorous habit,            well-branched.        -   Form.—Semi upright and decumbent.        -   Height.—15.0-20.0 cm as measured from soil level, excluding            blooms.        -   Width.—30.0-35.0 cm excluding flowers.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8-11 weeks for a            4-6 inch pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Does well in full sun; used as a            hanging plant, in mixed containers, patio containers.        -   Time to initiate roots.—18-23 days.        -   Root description.—White, fibrous.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; upper leaves subalternate.        -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower surface:            Between RHS 138A and RHS 138B Length: 2.5-5.0 cm. Width:            1.5-2.5 cm.        -   Mature leaf: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower surface:            Closest to RHS 138A Length: 5.5-5.6 cm Width: 2.8-4.1 cm            Shape: Elliptical to obovate Margin: Entire Apex: Rounded            Base: Acuminate Texture: Hirsute, few glandular hairs            Venation: Palmate Venation color: RHS 144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.2-0.3 cm Width: 0.3 cm Color: RHS 144B            Texture: Hirsute, few glandular hairs.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—25.0-30.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.5-3.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.        -   Texture.—Hirsute, few glandular hairs.        -   Stem anthocyanin.—None.        -   Pedicel.—Color: Between RHS 144A and RHS 144B Length:            1.7-2.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Texture: Hirsute, few glandular            hairs.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Diameter.—0.4-0.5 cm.        -   Length.—3.0-3.5 cm.        -   Color when bud is first starting to open.—RHS N82C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous throughout the growing season;            good floriferousness.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms.—4-8 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary in upper leaf axis.        -   Floret type.—Funnelform; 5 lobed petals, fused at base.-   Flowers:    -   -   Immature flower.—Color: Upper side: Between RHS N80A and RHS            N80B Underside: Between RHS 76B and RHS 76C Color of main            veins: RHS 144B Flower diameter: 3.5-5.0 cm.        -   Mature flower.—Color: Upper side: Between RHS N81D and RHS            77B Color of main veins: Faint RHS 145B Color of secondary            veins: Faint RHS 77B Underside: RHS 69D Color of main veins:            RHS 144B Flower diameter: 5.5-5.8 cm.        -   Corolla.—Tube color inside: RHS 4D Color of veins: RHS 145C            Tube length: 2.0-2.5 cm Texture: Hirsute and glandular            hairs.        -   Petals.—Apex: Obtuse Base: Fused Margin: Entire Waviness:            Weak Lobation: Moderate Texture: Papillose.        -   Calyx.—5-lobed.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5, deeply lobed, fused at base Color: RHS            137B Length: 1.2-1.4 cm Width: 0.3-0.5 cm Shape: Oblong            Apex: Rounded Texture: Short glandular hairs.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5; 2 taller and 3 shorter Filament color:            RHS N155D Filament length: 1.5-1.9 cm Pollen color: RHS 8D.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 1.9 cm Stigma color: RHS 144B            Style color: RHS 145C.        -   Fruit/seed set.—Not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Not observed.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘Jam Lavertwo’ differs from the female parent ‘Suncatcher Lavender’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,007) by having more flowering in the center ofthe plant and by not being as sensitive to leaf burning in high light as‘Suncatcher Lavender’. In addition, ‘Jam Lavertwo’ has a larger leafsize and a lighter lavender flower with more prominent veins than‘Suncatcher Lavender’.

‘Jam Lavertwo’ differs from the male parent ‘Jamboree Light Blue’ (U.S.Plant Patent applied for) by having a larger leaf size, lighter lavenderflower color and by being earlier to flower than ‘Jamboree Light Blue’.

1. A new and distinct petunia plant as shown and described herein.